Financial stocks gained in late Wednesday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.7% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) adding 1.4%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index climbed 2.2%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) eased 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) rose 1.8% to $92,958, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries decreased 3.3 basis points to 4.062%.

In economic news, the Institute for Supply Management's US services index rose to 52.6 in November from 52.4 in October, compared with expectations for 52.0 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

S&P Global (SPGI) said its services PMI gauge dropped to 54.1 in November from October's 54.8. The gauge fell to the lowest since June.

Employment in the US private sector fell unexpectedly in November, figures from payroll processing firm ADP showed, Jobs dropped by 32,000, versus consensus for a 10,000 increase in a Bloomberg survey.

In corporate news, Morgan Stanley (MS) has held preliminary talks with potential investors about offloading some of its data-center exposure via a so-called significant risk transfer, Bloomberg reported. Morgan Stanley shares rose 2.7%.

Prudential Financial (PRU) is mulling selling its stake in South Africa-based Alexforbes, Bloomberg reported. Prudential shares rose 1.9%.

Royal Bank of Canada (RY) shares gained 1.1% after the company reported higher fiscal Q4 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) shares fell 9.9% after the company lowered its quarterly dividend by 45%.